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The 2004/05 season was the 108th season of competitive football in Scotland
The managerial merry-go-round was in full swing at Somerset Park as the club tried to bring itself out of its financial crisis.
With fans calling for Campbell Money’s resignation United suddenly found themselves in severe financial difficulties with an unexpected inland revenue bill throwing the club to the brink of administration. In immediate cost cutting measures Campbell Money and assistant Norrie McWhirter were asked to go part time and take a wage cut. When they refused the writing for them was on the wall and they were dismissed late in August 2004.
Mark Shanks was appointed and a coaching team was installed comprising Robert Connor, Robert Reilly and Jim Dempsey. Shanks struggled to put a side together capable of regaining first division status but this was more to do with the dire financial position of the club who had to dispense with highly paid players to save the club from financial ruin. Nevertheless, there were signs that the club was on the way forward in a playing sense.
His tenure was a short one, lasting only six months, resigning from the club amidst a takeover bid for the club and the resignation of the club chariman Capperauld in March 2005. Ex-Ayr United player Robert Conner was appointed..
Robert Conner managed to find some better results from the players and with very limited resources sought to maximise what he had. The season showed some good, but too few, wins such as 3-1 away win at Alloa and it was Alloa who suffered the loss of four goals at Ayr in November although they did reply with three. There were two devastating defeats where five goals were lost - at Brechin in December and at Alloa in January.
In the short term he managed to avoid dropping into the depths of Division Three, but only just. With six defeats and two draws from the last ten matches, it was the failure of other teams that saved Ayr.
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